This Week's Updates:

• Harmful Algal Bloom Notifications
• Flood Risk Management Guidance
• Hudson River Estuary River Access and River Education Grants
• Hudson River Estuary Local Stewardship Planning Grants Reminder

Harmful Algal Bloom Notifications

New waterbodies with harmful algal blooms have been added today, June 29, to DEC’s Harmful Algal Blooms Notifications webpage.

This week, 16 waterbodies were added to the notification list. There are currently 36 waterbodies with blooms on the list.

Know it. Avoid it. Report it.

Because waterbodies may have harmful algal blooms that have not been reported to DEC, we recommend avoiding contact with floating mats, scum and discolored water.

If you suspect you have seen a harmful algal bloom, or you, your family, or pet has been in contact with a harmful algal bloom, please follow the instructions for reporting a bloom to DEC.

Notice of Draft State Flood Risk Management Guidance

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced the release of two flood-risk management guidance documents for public review: New York State Flood Risk Management Guidance and Guidance for Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Assessment. The documents were developed under the Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA), which requires applicants for some State permits, State funding, and certain facility-siting regulations to consider future physical climate risk due to sea-level rise, storm surge, and flooding. The proposed guidance also addresses mitigating risk due to sea-level rise, storm surge, and flooding in the approval and funding of public infrastructure. For more information, including how to comment and dates of public meetings, view DEC’s Environmental Notice Bulletin. Written comments will be accepted through August 20, 2018.

Hudson River Estuary River Access and River Education Grants

Approximately $1,115,000 is now available for River Access and River Education grants through the Hudson River Estuary Program. This competitive grant opportunity will help communities implement priorities outlined in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda, specifically to improve access to the tidal waters of the Hudson for fishing, swimming, boating, and wildlife-dependent recreation, and to enhance education about the estuary to make opportunities to learn about the Hudson River Estuary more accessible for a wide range of people.

Applications must be submitted in the NYS Grants Gateway by 3 p.m. on August 22, 2018.

Reminder: Application Deadline for Hudson River Estuary Local Stewardship Planning Grants

Approximately $350,000 is available to help communities in the Hudson River Estuary watershed increase resiliency to flooding, protect water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and enhance natural resources. Applications for the Hudson River Estuary Local Stewardship Planning grants must be submitted in the NYS Grants Gateway by 3 p.m. on July 11, 2018.